asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers bought themselves out of the Army in each month in 1977.

The information is as follows:

	1977
January	352
February	352
March	349
April	453
May	370
June	329
July	474
August	326
September	436
October	542
November	478
December	415

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will give for the longest and most convenient

APPROXIMATE FLEET STRENGTHS—1978
	United Kingdom	USA	USSR	China
Ballistic missile submarines	4N	41N	65N+20	1
Other submarines	9N+18	65N+10	82N+270	70
Rotary and fixed wing carriers	3	14	3	—
Cruisers	2	26	35	—
Amphibious ships	8	65	100	35
Destroyers/escorts, frigates and ocean escorts	68	155	220	18
Corvettes and coastal escorts	5	—	250	43
MCM vessels	38	25	350	50
N=Nuclear Powered Submarine.
	FRG	Italy	France	Japan
Ballistic missile submarines	—	—	4N	—
Other submarines	24	9	21	16
Rotary and fixed wing carriers	—	—	3	—
Cruisers	—	3	1	—
Amphibious ships	—	2	7	4
Destroyers/escorts, frigates and ocean escorts	17	18	37	47
Corvettes and coastal escorts	5	9	9	20
MCM vessels	56	45	35	37
N=Nuclear Powered Submarine.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the proposed name or other designation and recruiting

The Ministry of Defence does not keep records of this nature.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will provide figures to show the position of the Royal Navy as compared with foreign fleets in terms of numbers, size and tonnage.

The following table compares the composition of the Royal Navy with that of certain foreign fleets. The figures given are approximate and exclude warships smaller than mine countermeasures vessels; they do not indicate fleet capabilities in qualitative terms, nor are they able to reflect other important factors such as deployments, roles, strategy, etc. Information on tonnages of foreign fleets is not readily available.area of the new battalion-strength unit of the Army to be based on Warminster.

The new unit whose formation was announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 6th February—[Vol. 943, c. 445]—will be known as the Infantry Demonstration Battalion. It will be manned from the infantry as a whole, and, therefore, its men will have come from all parts of the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many of the 3·1 million beneficiaries of the special £5 electricity payment are non-householders.

It is estimated that some 500,000 or about 18 per cent. of beneficiaries are non-householders.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the estimated loss of production of North Sea oil as a result of inclement winter weather in each of the oilfields; and what effect this will have on United Kingdom production throughout 1978.

During the fourth quarter of 1977 production was approximately 2 million tonnes below the level forecast earlier in the year. I cannot isolate the reduction in production directly resulting from bad weather from that caused by other factors. Figures for production in January 1978 are not yet available and I cannot forecast the impact of weather on production during the year. I am aware that conditions offshore have been very severe in recent weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make further resources available to the Sports Council to enable it to give more widespread and substantial grant aid to local authorities wishing to make off-street provision for children skateboarding.

The Sports Council has already made considerable efforts to help the orderly development of skateboarding as a sport, including encouraging the formation of a government body for the sport—The Skateboard Association—and providing technical assistance and advice on the development and management of skateboarding facilities. On the provision of grants, the Council has already advised local authorities that applications for grant aid for facilities for skateboarding will be considered on the same basis as for other sports. But very often the needs of this sport can be met without great capital cost, by the imaginative use of existing sites.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the reduction in many authorities' rate support grants, and of the fact that the extent of the requirement was not apparent when applications for rate support grant were made, if he will now make available further resources to local authorities to enable them to make provision for off-street skateboarding areas.

The rate support grant is not made for any specific purpose, and it is up to each local authority to use its grant as it sees fit. Off-street skateboarding facilities do not need to be costly. The best use should be made by adaptation of whatever is to hand—e.g., open-air swimming pools, car parks, playgrounds. Regional offices of the Sports Council can advise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total cost of the Central Lancashire New Town to date identified as to salaries of officials, fees or other payments to profesional advisers, compensation to freeholders and tenants, actual building and construction.

I regret that it would be disproportionately costly to provide the information asked for. I would refer the hon. Member to the accounts of the Central Lancashire Development Corporation which are published each year with the Corporation's annual report. These show that capital expenditure incurred by the development corporation up to 31st March 1977 totalled £62·7 million including administration costs attributable to capital projects. Total administration costs for the same period were £7·6 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will name the 56 district councils that have no concessionary fare scheme; what is the number of retired people in each of these districts; what is the product of a 1p rate in each of these districts; how much it would cost to provide a similar concessionary fare scheme for each of these districts similar to that provided by the Greater London Council; and what would be the total cost of such a scheme for all these 56 district councils.

On the basis of a survey carried out in 1976, 56 districts have no concessionary fares scheme:

• Alnwick
• Arun
• Berwick-upon-Tweed
• Beverley
• Boston
• Breckland
• Broadland
• Caradon
• Carrick
• Charnwood
• Chichester
• Christchurch
• East Devon
• East Lindsey
• Eden
• Hambleton
• Harborough
• Horsham
• Kennet
• Kerrier
• Leominster
• Maldon
• Malvern Hills
• Mendip
• North Cornwall
• North Dorset
• North Norfolk
• North Shropshire
• North Wiltshire
• Penwith
• Poole
• Purbeck
• Reigate and Banstead
• Restormel Rother
• Salisbury
• South Hams
• South Herefordshire
• South Holland
• South Norfolk
• South Northamptonshire
• Stafford
• South Shropshire
• Stratford-on-Avon
• Tandridge
• Teignbridge
• Tiverton
• Tunbridge Wells
• Tynedale
• Wealden
• West Devon
• West Dorset
• West Somerset
• West Wiltshire
• Wimborne
• Woodspring

I regret that the remaining information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate effort and cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the last date on which evidence from authorities, societies or individuals may be submitted to the Prior Committee on Motorway Service Areas.

The Committee on Motorway Service Areas have not as yet fixed any such date, but since it has been asked to report by the end of June 1978, evidence should clearly be submitted as early as possible if it is to give full weight to it.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, in view of the number of accidents on the A141 within the boundary of the village of Mepal, and of the need for a speed limit through the village, if he will take steps to assume responsibility for this section of the road.

It would not be appropriate to give trunk road status to the A142, the principal road running through Mepal.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the number of married women who have failed to obtain a pension in their own right due to the operation of the half-test rule; how many of these women have actually paid a full national insurance stamp for more than half of their total working life; and what would be the cost of awarding pensions to them, if the abolition of the rule were retrospective.

This is an area in which it is very difficult to make reliable estimates. However, it is estimated that the number of married women over pension age who are excluded by the half-test but who would otherwise satisfy the contribution conditions for retirement pension on their own contributions is perhaps 300,000. This figure includes those women who would qualify for a pension on their own contributions during the period until their husbands retired and until they qualified for a pension on his contributions, and also those women who, in the absence of the half-test, could qualify for a pension on their own contributions at a higher rate than that available on their husbands' contributions. Perhaps one-third of the 300,000 have a full record of contributions or credits for at least half their working lives.The cost of awarding pensions to these 300,000 women on the basis that the half-test did not apply, and at current rates from a current date, might be of the order of £100 million a year. These figures, however, take no account of the number of women who decided not to continue paying contributions after marriage because of the half-test but who would have done so if there had been no half-test. As my hon. Friend will be aware, the half-test is being abolished for married women who reach pension age from 6th April 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many recipients there were, broken down by age, of supplementary benefit in their own right who were non-householders for 1976 and for 1977 at the latest available date.

The number of non-householders in receipt of supplementary benefit in their own right was estimated to have been 498,000 in December 1976. A detailed breakdown by age is not available due to industrial action at the time in local offices of the Department of Employment. Figures for 1977 should be available by the summer of 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made in the study of the basic problems of mental illness hospitals which he set up last June under the chairmanship of Mr. Pat Benner.

The Working Group on Organisational and Management Problems of Mental Illness Hospitals has met regularly since its formation. It has so far been concerned to identify and analyse the various problems related to the organisation and management of mental illness hospitals, in the light of inquiry reports in recent years, other background information and members' own experience. The complex range of problems and the many variations in local circumstances, present a formidable task for the group. I hope to have its report by the end of the year.Mr. T. E. Nodder, Deputy Secretary in my Department, has succeeded Mr. P. Benner as chairman, following a change of duties within the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he intends to introduce legislation for the participation of members in occupational pension schemes or whether he intends to invite the Occupational Pensions Board to prepare a code of good practice.

The Government remain committed to the introduction of legislation to further member participation in the management of occupational pension schemes through recognised independent trade unions. There are no plans to invite the Occupational Pensions Board to prepare a code of good practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many companies with occupational pension schemes have arrangements for participation of members in the management of the schemes; and whether information is available on the size of the schemes concerned and the types of arrangements made.

The Government Actuary's recent survey indicates that 8,500 occupational pension schemes with more than 25 members have arrangements for some form of participation by members on management committees or boards of trustees. Experience suggests that arrangements vary widely and that the participation is not qualitatively consistent. In some cases employers appoint a single employee to an advisory committee. In others, 50 per cent. of the trustees are nominated through recognised independent trade unions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing what weekly standard rates

		April 1977	November 1977	April 1978
	…	£	£	£
(a) Child benefit
First child	…	1·00	—	2·30
Younger children	…	1·50	—	2·30
b) Child addition to retirement pensions
First child	…	6·45	7·40	6·10
Younger children	…	5·95	6·90	6·10

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to exempt those people due to retire in the tax year 1978–79 from the increased contributions due under the new pension scheme, or to refund such contributions at the end of the tax year.

I am looking into the implications, but no provision has been made for this.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of 64-yearold males and 59-year-old females due to retire in the financial year 1978–79.

I presume that my hon. Friend has in mind the number of men and women who will attain pensionable age between April 1978 and April 1979. It is estimated that about 275,000 men and 260,000 women will be in this category.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that the number of deaths in England and Wales where hypothermia is mentioned on the death certificate represents the sum total of deaths where hypothermia is a proximate cause of death; and, if not, what is his estimate of such total.

In spite of investigations made into the suspicion that the number of (a) child benefit and (b) increase in retirement pension for a child dependant have been paid since child benefit was introduced and are proposed to be paid in the foreseeable future.

The information, which takes account of the uprating of child benefit already announced for April 1978, is as follows:of such deaths may he understated nothing has yet emerged, either in this country or elsewhere, to confirm that there is an understatement or to measure it, and consequently there is no information on which to modify the estimate of the number of these deaths.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many Press and public relations staff are employed in his Department.

Relations with the public are a major concern of a very large number of staff in my Department, and in particular of those in local offices. In addition, there are 22 information and Press officer posts at Headquarters, and one—or, in two cases, two—information officer posts in each of the 10 social security regions and at the Scottish and Welsh Central Offices.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to improve National Health Service facilities for dental treatment in North-East Essex; and whether it is his intention to open a National Health Service dental clinic so as to fulfil the National Health Service commitment for dental treatment.

As independent contractors, general dental practitioners cannot be compelled to practice in any particular place, but I understand that a dentist has shown an interest in taking up practice in North-East Essex and the area health authority will be as helpful at it can to him. In the community dental service there are nine clinics in use in North-East Essex, and these meet the needs of the school and priority services in that area.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many dental technicians there were in each of the years from 1973 to 1977 in Great Britain and in the county of Norfolk, respectively.

The numbers of whole-time equivalent dental technicians of all grades, including apprentices and students, employed in hospital and community service dental laboratories were as follows:

1973	588
1974	560
1975	602
1976	782

The figures for 1977 are not yet available.I regret that the figures for dental technicians employed in Norfolk or outside the hospital and community dental service are not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the order amending the Medicines (Prescription Only) Order 1977 so as to provide a six months' transitional period will be made.

The Medicines (Prescription Only) Amendment Order 1978 has now been made and copies are being laid before Parliament today. It will come into operation tomorrow.By virtue of this amendment order medicinal products for human and animal use that before 1st February 1978 could legally have been sold or supplied without a prescription, and which became subject to prescription only control under the principal order, will be allowed to be sold or supplied without prescription for a further period of six months. The amendment order provides that where previous legislation required the sale or supply of such products to be recorded in a register or made against a signed order those procedures should be followed during the six months' period as if the requirements had continued in force.Also being laid today are the Medicines (Labelling) (Special Transitional) Regulations 1978. These regulations are designed to deal with problems which could arise with regard to the labelling of medicines by virtue of the introduction of this transitional exemption. They provide that during the same period of six months the requirements of the Medicines (Labelling) Regulations 1976 will be deemed to be satisfied by the labelling of medicinal products which, but for the provisions of the Medicines (Prescription Only) Amendment Order, would have satisfied those requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give at 31st January 1978 or the latest convenient date the total number of British passport holders now resident in each Commonwealth country who have the right of entry into Great Britain and who would in addition be allowed to settle in the United Kingdom.

The only relevant figures available are for citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who are patrial and in consequence, under the Immigration Act 1971, have the right of entry and right of abode in the United Kingdom. The following table gives the latest available estimated figures for all Commonwealth countries except Canada, Australia and New Zealand for which territories no figures are available:

The Bahamas	5,000
Bangladesh	560
Barbados	2,000
Botswana	4,604
Cyprus	1,796
Fiji	956
The Gambia	238
Ghana	3,000
Grenada	285
Guyana	485
India	5,000
Jamaica	6,865
Kenya	12,500
Lesotho	556
Malawi	4,000
Malaysia	4,203
Malta	3,873

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why, when papers on the Malta meeting with the Patriotic Front leaders were supplied to Bishop Muzorewa and the Reverend N. Sithole, Chief Chirau the leader of ZUPO was excluded.

The confidential working documents we produced at the Malta talks were, in accordance with precedent, communicated to those parties who were represented at the 1976 Geneva Conference on Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied with the efficiency of the British Commercial Office in Baghdad.

The information I have confirms that the Commercial Section at the British Embassy, Baghdad, is providing an efficient service for British industry and commerce.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police vehicles there are at Northolt MRD District Garage of the Metropolitan Police; how many are in regular use; and for what purpose those not in regular use are retained.

Of the 448 vehicles at the Northolt Main Repair Depot of the Metropolitan Police on 3rd February 1978, 50 were being repaired so that they could be returned to regular service. The remainder were new vehicles being equipped for service as replacements in the Metropolitan Police fleet or awaiting such preparation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will appoint Professor Harmindar Singh, of Greenford, Middlesex, as a member of the Community Relations Commission.

There is no such body. The Commission for Racial Equality has a full complement of members.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will appoint Dr. Niranjar Singh Maagat to the Race Relations Board.

There is no such body. The Race Relations Board came to an end in June 1977. The Commission for Racial Equality has a full complement of members.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the number and grades together with their salary scales of those within his office who are of African or Asian origin.

The figures are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men there are in the United Kingdom whose religious beliefs and native customs entitle them to have four wives, and who have brought in more than one wife and their children; how many have been allowed to bring in more than one wife for the longest and most convenient period of time; and what is his estimate of the number of men who are entitled to enter and are awaiting entry within this category.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he will publish in the Official Report the number of arrests and detention by each regional police force of persons within its area under the terms of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act.

The total numbers of persons detained in England and Wales under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974 and 1976 for each police force are as follows:

Police Force	Number of Detentions
Metropolitan Police	726
Avon and Somerset Constabulary	39
Bedfordshire Police	42
Cambridgeshire Constabulary	0
Cheshire Constabulary	6
City of London Police	24
Cleveland Constabulary	7
Cumbria Constabulary	2
Derbyshire Constabulary	1
Devon and Cornwall Constabulary	27
Dorset Police	16
Durham Constabulary	0
Essex Police	33
Gloucestershire Constabulary	10
Greater Manchester Police	52
Hampshire Constabulary	144
Hertfordshire Constabulary	0
Humberside Constabulary	7
Kent Constabulary	38
Lancashire Constabulary	57
Leicestershire Constabulary	7
Lincolnshire Constabulary	2
Merseyside Police	767
Norfolk Constabulary	0
Northamptonshire Police	20
Northumbria Police	5
North Yorkshire Police	1
Nottinghamshire Constabulary	3
South Yorkshire Police	0
Staffordshire Police	0
Suffolk Police	8
Surrey Constabulary	82
Sussex Police	17
Thames Valley Police	15
Warwickshire Constabulary	0
West Mercia Constabulary	2
West Midlands Police	97
West Yorkshire (Metropolitan) Police	102
Wiltshire Constabulary	2
Dyfed Powys Police	57
Gwent Constabulary	2
North Wales Police	37
South Wales Constabulary	58
	2,515

In addition, 583 people have been detained under the legislation in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in how many cases applications were made for detention to be extended by a further five days; and in how many cases it was refused.

276 and none.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been detained under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; how many have been subsequently charged with offences; and with what offences they have been charged.

3,098 people have been detained in Great Britain under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976. An extension of detention under Section 7 of the 1974 Act or Section 12 of the 1976 Act has been approved in 276 cases; a further 651 people were detained for 48 hours or less. 2,171 people have been detained pending further examination at ports under the supplemental orders made under the Acts.118 people detained under the Acts have been charged with offences in Great Britain. 20 of them have been charged with offences under the Acts. Four of the remainder have been charged with murder, three with attempted murder, 16 with conspiracy to cause explosions, 11 with unlawful possession of explosives, one with conspiracy to possess or procure explosives with intent to endanger life, 12 with offences under the Firearms Act 1968, one with causing an explosion, five with conspiracy to defraud the Inland Revenue, 15 with theft, four with burglary, one with causing criminal damage, one with threatening to cause criminal damage, one with attempting criminal deception, one with handling a stolen vehicle, fice with handling stolen property, one with unlawful wounding, two with possession of drugs, three with wasting police time, one with harbouring a person known to have committed an arrestable offence, two with assault on police, one with being found on enclosed premises, one with possessing an offensive weapon, two with offences under Section 6 of the Road Traffic Act 1972, three with criminal deception, and one with obtaining a passport by deception.In addition, three people have been removed to the Irish Republic and there charged, two with burglary and one with robbery.25 people have been removed to Northern Ireland and there charged, six with murder, two with robbery, four with firearms offences, four with unlawful possession of explosives, five with causing an explosion, one with the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, one with burglary, and two with arson.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been charged with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; and under which sections of the Act the charges have been brought.

17 people have been charged in Great Britain with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976: three under Section 10(1)(a), two under Sections 10(1)(a) and 10(2), two under Section 10(1), one under Section 10(1)(b)—who was not initially detained under the Act—three under Section 1(1)(b), two under Section 9(1), two under Section 9(2)(a) and two under Section 11(1). Four people were charged in Great Britain under Section 1(1)(b) of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has refused an extension of five days to the police for the holding of a suspect under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; and, if so, in how many cases.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, of the charges brought against suspects initially held under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, if any have been dropped before the case was heard; if so, which charges; if any charges have led to an unsuccessful prosecution; if so, which charges; if any charges have led to a successful prosecution; and, if so, in each case, what was the sentence imposed.

I gave a detailed answer to a similar Question by my hon. Friend on 14th December 1977.—[Vol. 941, c. 242–245.]—The only change since then is the addition of three people charged under Section 10(1)(a) of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976 who are awaiting trial.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what progress has been made to date in Lord Shackleton's review of the operation of the Prevention of Terrorism Act;(2) when he expects Lord Shackleton to complete his review of the operation of the Prevention of Terrorism Acts.

I understand from Lord Shackleton that he is making steady progress, but I cannot yet say when he is likely to complete his review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been served with exclusion orders under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; how many have been deported to (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Republic of Ireland; how many have appealed against exclusion orders; and how many appeals have been successful.

116 exclusion orders have been made under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976. Notice of the making of an exclusion order has been served on 108 people, 100 of whom have been removed, 76 to Northern Ireland and 24 to the Irish Republic. 22 of the 108 made representations objecting to the order. The order has been revoked in six of these cases. Two cases are still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the arrangements to prevent foreigners illegally residing in the United Kingdom from voting in parliamentary and local government elections, and if he will describe these arrangements.

Yes. A person may not vote in parliamentary or local government elections unless his name is included in the register of electors. Only British subjects and citizens of the Irish Republic resident in the United Kingdom may be registered, and the electoral registration officer may require a person to produce a birth certificate or certificate of naturalisation or similar documentary evidence before entering his name on the register.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for admission to the United Kingdom for permanent residence have been received, in the latest period for which figures are available, from the husbands of British citizens, where the marriage ceremony has been contracted overseas.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he issued or authorised the issue of a circular instructing prison staff to open and read correspondence between prisoners and solicitors pursuant to Rule 33(3) of the Prison Rights relating to proceedings before the European Commission of Human Rights; and, if so, what are the terms of that instruction and why it was issued.

Correspondence between a solicitor and a prisoner in connection with a petition by the prisoner to the European Commission of Human Rights is governed by Prison Rule 33(3). Guidance to that effect has been given to prison governors from time to time, but it has not so far been found necessary to embody it in a circular instruction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether boards of visitors at Her Majesty's prisons exercise a function independent of the Home Office; and whether they are bound by directives issued by the Prison Department of the Home Office as to interpretation of the Prison Rules.

The principal function of a board of visitors is to exercise an independent judgment on the administration of its establishment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, how many temporary employment subsidies are currently being paid in the Leek parliamentary constituency.

I regret that I am unable to give information in the precise form requested—i.e., those currently being paid—as this could only be collected at disproportionate cost. We can say, however, that as at 3rd February 1978, the cumulative total of applications approved in the Leek employment office area, since 24th September 1975 when the scheme was extended to this area, was seven covering 762 workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has made any progress in securing the earlier publication of statistics relating to numbers employed.

Since my reply to my hon. Friend's Question on 8th March 1977 concerning the annual census of employment—[Vol. 927, c. 514–5]—I regret to say that industrial action by computer staff, and unforeseen difficulties in processing the full-scale census of employment taken in 1976, led to publication being delayed until last November—some 17 months after the reference date. However, at the same time, very considerable progress has been made in improving procedures to make greater use of computer processing. These changes are taking a little longer than previously envisaged, but they are now nearly complete. There will be some repercussions, from the problems with the 1976 census on the compilation of the results for 1977, but every effort is being made to limit the possible delays in publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will request his officials concerned to investigate to what extent in the hotel, restaurant and catering trades illegal immigrants are being employed on poor wages and being exploited; and what action can be taken to change this situation.

The Wages Inspectorate of my Department investigates all complaints alleging underpayment of workers in licensed premises and unlicensed restaurants whatever the immigration status of the workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to improve the unemployment situation amongst construction workers on Merseyside.

Construction workers on Merseyside, as in other parts of the country, should benefit from the allocation of the additional £811 million over the next three years for construction projects

	Nuclear Power Industry		Coal Mining			Agriculture
	Fatal per cent	Other per cent	Fatal per cent	Serious reportable per cent	Non reportable per cent	Fatal per cent	Other per cent
1965	0·003	2·2	0·05	0·24	42·3	*	*
1970	Nil	2·1	0·03	0·21	29·5	*	*
1973	0·004	1·6	0·03	0·21	24·3	0·01	1·96
1976	0·010	1·8	0·02	0·21	19·6	0·01	1·80
* Not available.

Industrial accidents in the nuclear power industry involving death or absences from work of more than three days are notifiable to the Health and Safety Executive under the Factories Acts. The data cover relevant employees of the UKAEA, the generating boards and British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. UKAEA industrial accident statistics for the years prior to 1976 have been obtained from announced by the Government during 1977. Construction workers will also continue to be eligible to benefit from the Government's special employment measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the report of the Low Pay Unit, the Charge of the Wages Brigade; and if he will consider implementing any, or all of its eight recommendations.

I am studying the report and the extent to which it would be practicable or desirable to implement its recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list for 1965, 1970, 1973, 1976 and the latest available date within the nuclear power industry the figure of accidents for fatal, serious and non-serious accidents as a percentage of the number of individuals employed and the comparison of these accident rates with workers in the coal industry and agricultural workers.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 1st February 1978; Vol. 943, c. 166], gave the following information:I am advised by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the relevant information in the form available and in terms of numbers of persons involved is as follows:the Authority's internal records which cover absences of more than one day. The percentage of "other" accidents also includes radiation exposures exceeding prescribed limits.Fatal and serious accidents in coal mining are reportable under the Mines and Quarries. Act. Non-reportable accidents are taken from information supplied to the Executive by the National Coal Board, and they involve absences from work of more than three days.Fatal accidents in agriculture are reportable under the Agriculture (Safety, Health and Welfare Provisions) Act. "Other" accidents are notified to the Executive by the Department of Health and Social Security and are based on notifications of absences of more than three days made under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list in each of the last 15 years within the nuclear power industry the number of (a) fatal accidents caused by radiation and the number of individuals involved, (b) serious accidents caused by radiation and the number of individuals involved, and (c) non-serious accidents caused by radiation and the number of individuals involved.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 1st February 1978; Vol. 943, c. 166], gave the following information:I am advised by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the relevant information in the form available is as follows:

	Number of persons involved
(a)(b) These would be occurrences reportable to the Health and Safety Executive under the Nuclear Installations (Dangerous Occurrences) Regulations 1965 and earlier legislation and, in the case of nuclear installations operated by the UKAEA, under equivalent arrangements	None
(c) Accidental radiation exposures exceeding the maximum permissible quarterly limits laid down in conditions attached to nuclear site licences or in the Ionising Radiations Regulations of the Factories Acts:—
1963	15
1964	14
1965	30
1966	15
1967	10
1968	19
1969	24
1970	17
1971	19
1972	20
1973	32
1974	28
1975	16
1976	19
1977	11

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is (a) the minimum, (b) the average and (c) the maximum length of delay imposed by Her Majesty's Customs on heavy goods vehicles crossing the frontier between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Precise figures are not available, but, providing the documents presented to Customs are properly completed, clearance of heavy goods vehicles crossing the boundary between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland can take as little as five minutes, though in general the clearance time is about 15 minutes. At times, owing to the character of the goods, their examination may cause the formalities to take up to one hour.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is (a) the minimum, (b) the average and (c) the maximum length of delay imposed by Her Majesty's Customs on railway wagons crossing the frontier between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Railway wagons are not delayed for Customs purposes when crossing the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland as Customs formalities take place on arrival in Portadown or Belfast.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the 40 industrial sectors which, from NEDC reports, show a growth potential; and if he will show against each the current numbers employed in Scotland and in the remainder of the United Kingdom.

The information in the following table relates to Minimum List Headings, and corresponds as

		Employees in employment June 1976
Minimum List Heading	Nearest corresponding sector working party	Scotland	Rest of United Kingdom	United Kingdom
211 to 239	Food and Drink	87,282	587,221	674,503
271	Specialised Organics	7,451	125,022	132,473
271 and 276	Petrochemicals	10,850	173,485	184,335
272	Pharmaceuticals	3,289	67,344	70,633
311 and 312	Iron and Steel	25,960	257,177	283,137
313	Ferrous Foundries	7,949	67,848	75,797
321 to 323	Non-Ferrous Foundries	5,184	105,315	110,499
332	Machine Tools	2,618	60,285	62,903
333	Pumps and Valves	12,097	71,735	83,832
	Fluid Power Equipment
334	Industrial Engines	—*	—*	29,105
335	Textile Machinery	1,177	29,063	30,240
336	Construction Equipment and Mobile Cranes	6,132	36,619	42,751
337	Mechanical Handling Equipment and Industrial Trucks	5,237	53,555	58,792
338	Office Machinery	5,401	19,012	24,413
339	Mining Machinery	17,351	195,745	213,096
	Printing Machinery
	Space Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Machinery
341	Process Plant Fabrication	27,153	136,203	163,356
	Construction Steelwork
353 and 354	Automation and Instrumentation	—*	—*	125,339
361	Heavy Electrical Machinery	7,023	129,428	136,451
	Industrial Electrical Equipment
363	Telecommunications	3,477	73,322	76,799
364	Electronic Components	12,132	112,937	125,069
365	Electronic Consumer Goods	—*	—*	53,335
366	Electronic Computers	6,328	35,904	42,232
367	Radio, Radar and Electronic Capital Goods	6,502	82,816	89,318
368	Domestic Electrical Appliances	6,679	54,655	61,334
399	Drop Forgings	16,198	292,153	308,351
411	Man Made Fibres	1,426	42,047	43,473
414	Wool Textiles	10,924	71,381	82,305
417	Hosiery and Knitwear	13,978	104,476	118,454
441–445, 449	Clothing	29,044	273,036	302,080
481	Paper and Board	10,166	52,538	62,704
491	Rubber	6,276	109,010	115,286
Employees in employment, June 1976. Source: Department of Employment.
* These figures are confidential since they could reveal information on individual undertakings.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, further to his oral answer, Official Report, 26th January, column 1585, he will give some indication of the quarter of the year in which there will be a steady fall in the unemployment rate.

Because of uncertainties surrounding the employment-output relationships, it is not possible to be as precise as the hon. Member wishes. closely as possible to the coverage of the 37 sector working parties in the NEDC work on industrial strategy. These sectors were selected for a number of reasons, including contribution to exports, size of net output and importance to other industries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of national expenditure was spent in the public sector and the private sector during the years 1973–74 and 1977–78, giving the amounts in each instance.

The table below shows the contributions of the public and private sectors to national output in the years 1973 to 1976. Part of national expenditure is on imported goods and services and part of the output of both sectors is exported. The amount of national expenditure met from the output of both sectors would, therefore, be

CONTRIBUTION OF THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS TO NATIONAL OUTPUT
	1973	1974	1975	1976
Public sector contribution—
£ million	16,905	20,915	28,574	33,554
Per cent	26·7	28·7	30·9	31·0
Private sector contribution—
£ million	46,427	51,955	64,008	74,544
Per cent	73·3	71·3	69·1	69·0
Total (Gross domestic product at factor cost)*—
£ million	63,332	72,870	92,582	108,098
* The sum of factor incomes. The estimates normally quoted are based on the expenditure approach, and are higher by varying amounts, up to about 1 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage increase in wages and salaries, in prices and in dividends from 1st March

	Wages and salaries*	General index of retail prices (all items)	United Kingdom company dividends (gross of tax)†‡
Percentage increases—
1966quarter 1–1977quarter3	265	210	23
1974quarter 1–1977quarter3	81	82	32
* Excludes Forces' pay.
† Excludes payments of dividends to other companies.
‡ Dividend payments were high in quarter 1 1966 because companies had brought forward payments in order to avoid payment of income tax under Schedule F, to which they would have been liable on dividends paid after 5th April 1966. Between the first half of 1966 and the third quarter of 1977 the quarterly rate of dividend payments rose by 73 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) following Government discussions with the CBI and chambers of commerce, whether he will now list all those companies which have been refused temporary employment subsidy because of breaches of the Government's pay guidelines(2) following Government discussions with the CBI and chambers of commerce, whether he will now list all those companies which are not being invited to tender for or awarded contracts placed by the Welsh Office because of breaches of the Government's pay guidelines; and whether he will give the criteria by which these companies were selected from other

The percentage increases in wages and salaries, the general index of retail prices and company dividend payments are as follows:companies in breach of the pay guidelines for inclusion on the Welsh Office black list;(3) following Government discussions with the CBI and chambers of commerce, whether he will now list all those companies which are not being invited to tender for or awarded contracts placed by the Scottish Office because of breaches of the Government's pay guidelines; and whether he will give the criteria by which the companies were selected from other companies in breach of the pay guidelines for inclusion on the Scottish Office black list;(4) following Government discussions with the CBI and the chambers of commerce, whether he will now list all those companies which are not being invited to tender for or awarded contracts placed by the Ministry of Defence because of breaches of the Government's pay guidelines; and whether he will state the criteria by which these companies were selected from other companies in breach of the pay guidelines for inclusion on the Ministry of Defence black list;(5) following Government discussions with the CBI and the chambers of commerce, whether he will now list all those companies which have been refused regional selective financial assistance under Section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 or selective financial assistance under Section 8 of the Industry Act 1972 because of breaches of the Government's pay guidelines;(6) following Government discussions with the CBI and chambers of commerce, whether he will now list all those companies with are not being invited to tender for or awarded contracts placed by the Department of Transport because of breaches of the Government's pay guidelines; and whether he will give the criteria by which these companies were selected from other companies in breach of the pay guide lines for inclusion on the Department's black list;(7) following Government discussions with the CBI and chambers of commerce, whether he will now list all those companies which are not being invited to tender for or awarded contracts placed by the Department of the Environment because of breaches of the Government's pay guidelines; and whether he will give the criteria by which these companies were selected from other companies in breach of the pay guidelines for inclusion on the department's black list.

These consultations are not yet complete.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Inland Revenue has for further computerisation of the pay-as-you-earn system.

The Inland Revenue already operates one computerised PAYE office, Centre 1 at East Kilbride, but, as previously announced on 1st December 1971—[Vol. 827, c. 120–1]—it was decided not to proceed to further computerisation on that basis. Subsequent studies have, however, con firmed the need to automate the main PAYE processes across the country, and the Department has recently conducted a preliminary inquiry into the feasibility of introducing a different system of computerisation nationally, linking the staff in local offices to regional computers through the use of visual display units. It is now engaged in a full study of such a system with the aim of producing an implementation plan at the end of 1979 and an operational system from the mid-1980s onwards.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will publish in the Official Report the attendance figures for 1977 at the national museums in Northern Ireland, broken down to the individual institutions, with figures in each case of the percentage increase or decrease on the attendance figures for 1976.

The information is as follows:

Ulster Museum; 181,383 visitors, a decrease of 3·23 per cent. and Ulster Folk and Transport Museum: 144,779 visitors, an increase of 3·74 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will specify the sums paid under certificates of indemnity issued by the national museums in Northern Ireland in respect of claims for loss of, or damage sustained by, objects lent to them during the 10 financial years from 1967–68 to 1976–77 inclusive, broken down into the individual years, and divided in each year between (a) claims satisfied in respect of long-term loans to the permanent collections, and (b) claims satisfied in respect of loans to temporary exhibitions.

No such payments have been made in these years.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) whether he will specify the total amounts covered by certificates of indemnity issued by the national museums in Northern Ireland in respect of loans to them of objects over the past 10 financial years from 1967–68 to 1976–77 inclusive, broken down into the individual years, and divided in each year between (a) long-term loans to the permanent collections, and (b) loans to temporary exhibitions;(2) whether he will specify the total amounts at 1st January 1978 covered by certificates of indemnity issued by the

				Total on 1st January
	1967–68	1968–69	1970–71	1978
	£	£	£	£
In respect of long-term loans	52,204	8,420	—	60,624
In respect of temporary loans	—	—	18,500	—

No other certificates of indemnity were issued in the period.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many persons excluded from Great Britain under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Northern Ireland) Act have been sent to Northern Ireland and how many have been detained subsequently or charged with offences in Northern Ireland;(2) how many persons have been excluded from Northern Ireland under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; and how many have been sent to Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, respectively;(3) how many people have been excluded from Northern Ireland under the terms of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act;(4) how many people from Northern Ireland have been excluded and been charged subsequently with breaking an exclusion order under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act;(5) how many people from the Republic of Ireland have been excluded from Northern Ireland under the terms of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act and subsequently charged with breaking an exclusion order.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many persons have been detained in Northern Ireland under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; how many have been charged subsequently with offences; and national museums in Northern Ireland, in respect of objects lent to their permanent collections on a long-term basis.

The information is as follows:with what offences they have been charged;(2) how many persons have been charged under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act in Northern Ireland: and under which section of the Act.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will make a statement on how the Provisional Irish Republic Army breached security at the Royal Ulster Constabulary station in Draperstown and booby-trapped a Land Rover causing injury to two policemen on Tuesday 7th February;(2) if he will make a statement on the murder of the Ulster Defence Regiment Sergeant John Eaglestram by the Provisional Irish Republican Army on Tuesday 7th February;(3) if he will make a statement on the murder of Mrs. Martha McAlpine by the Provisional Irish Republican Army on Saturday 4th February.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the infant mortality and the perinatal mortality statistics for 1977 for Northern Ireland and each area board.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9th February 1978, VoI. 943], gave the following information:The provisional figures for Northern Ireland are as follows:

Perinatal mortality per 1,000 total births	21·0
Infant mortality per 1,000 live births	16·8

Figures for individual health and social services board areas are not yet available.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will publish extracts from the List of Members of Public Boards showing the salary received by

	At 1st April 1974	At April 1974 increased in line with the movement in the Index of Retail Prices between April 1974 and and December 1977	Current rates
	£	£	£
Salary of the Chairman of—
British Railways Board	22,750	40,396·80	23,308·80
British Transport Docks Board	9,300	16,513·85	14,312·04
			(10,734·03)
British Waterways Board	6,375	11,319·98	6,654·40
National Bus Company	8,825	15,670·41	12,746·16
			(9,104·40)
National Freight Corporation	19,250	34,181·90	15,847·04
			(19,808·80)
Scottish Transport Group	8,125	14,427·43	8,404·40
British Airways Board	15,156	26,912·26	23,308·80
Civil Aviation Authority	17,250	30,630·54	14,247·04
			(17,808·80)
British Airports Authority	10,400	18,467·11	17,808·80
			(10,685·28)
National Coal Board	22,750	40,396·80	23,308·80
Electricity Council	22,750	40,396·80	23,308·80
Central Electricity Generating Board	20,750	36,845·43	21,308·80
Area Electricity Boards	12,250–17,250	21,752·12–30,630·54	12,808·802013;17,808·80
North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board	8,125	14,427·43	8,404·40
South of Scotland Electricity Board	16,250	28,854·85	16,808·80
British Gas Corporation	22,750	40,396·80	23,308·80
UK Atomic Energy Authority	19,250	34,181·90	19,808·80
British Steel Corporation	27,750	49,275·21	28,308·80
Post Office	22,750	40,396·80	23,308·80
Cable and Wireless Limited	8,675	15,404·05	9,066·16
White Fish Authority	5,625	9,988·19	5,904·40
Herring Industry Board	5,000	8,878·42	5,554·40
Commonwealth Development Corporation	13,475	23,927·33	13,866·16
The current salaries shown also attract additional threshold supplements—up to a maximum of £229·68 per annum; they do not include the increases, announced by the Prime Minister on 15th December 1977 as being payable from 1st January 1978, which have not yet been implemented.
The time commitment of the chairmen of some boards has changed since 1974. In these cases, for comparison purposes, the notional current salary based on the time commitment as it was in 1974 is shown in brackets.
The Sugar Board, which is now defunct, has not been included.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library a map on a suitable scale showing (a) the present upper and lower planting limits and (b) the projected final upper and lower planting limits on Mullwharcher and its neighbouring hills in the Galloway Forest Park.

The information is as follows:

I have now placed in the Library of the House a map showing existing plantations and land which the Forestry Commission intends to plant within the next 10 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish in the Official Report the number of arrests and detentions by each regional police force of persons within its area under the terms of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act.

The number of persons arrested and detained in each region in Scotland between 29th November 1974 and 7th February 1978 under the authority of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts, 1974 and 1976 were:

Strathclyde	76
Tayside	2
Lothian and Borders	7
Dumfries and Galloway	496
Grampian	2
Other Regions	Nil

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many cases applications were made for detention to be extended by a further five days; and in how many cases it was refused.

Between 29th November 1974 and 7th February 1978 applications for the extension of detention, under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976, by a further five days were made in four cases, and none of these applications was refused.

asked the Attorney-General if he will list the duties of justices of the peace in Northern Ireland.

Since 1935 the general powers of justices of the peace in Northern Ireland have been limited to remanding defendants, granting bail, committing persons for trial, and trying a limited number of minor offences when the defendant consents to be so tried. Such justices have certain other functions relating to the signing of summonses, warrants, declarations and similar documents, and the making of orders for the destruction of unsound food and game. The existing powers and duties are mainly set down in the First and Second Schedules to the Magistrates Courts Act (NI) 1964.

asked the Attorney General how many persons in each county in Northern Ireland have been invited to serve as justices of the peace during the past six months; and, of that number, how many declined.

The number of persons who in the past six months have been invited to accept appointment as justices of the peace in a county or county borough in Northern Ireland, and the number of these who have declined such appointment are as follows:

• County Londonderry, 17 invited—none declined.
• County Fermanagh, 13 invited—1 declined.
• County Antrim, 22 invited—1 declined.
• County Armagh, 17 invited—1 declined.
• County Down, 15 invited—1 declined.
• County Borough of Londonderry, 12 invited—1 declined.
• County Borough of Belfast, 11 invited—none declined.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will give for the longest and most convenient period of time the number of occasions in which he has intervened to prevent barristers and solicitors from increasing their fees and incomes in excess of the Government's 10 per cent. guidelines; and with what results.

The fees of self-employed barristers and solicitors are subject to the price code. My right hon. and learned Friend has no power of intervention under this code, the implementation of which is a matter for the Price Commission.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current value in US dollars of the European unit of account and the agricultural unit of account, respectively; what were these values on 1st January of each year from 1970 to 1977; by what percentage common agricultural policy prices in each EEC member State diverge from the agricultural unit of account on 30th January 1978; and what the divergence would be if the market rate for the European unit of account were to be substituted for the agricultural unit of account or if prices now expressed in agricultural unit of account were to be expressed in European unit of account on the basis of these units having equal value.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 3rd February 1978; Vol. 943, c. 360–1] gave the following information:The average value of the European unit of account (EUA) and the agricul-

	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977
AUA	1·00	1·00	1·09	1·09	1·14	1·36	1·24	1·33
EUA	—	—	—	—	—	—	1·16	1·12

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the costs of production of livestock farmers in the United Kingdom compared with those in other EEC countries; and, in particular, what are the comparative costs of land purchased or rented, labour, weekly wages or earnings, oil and petrol, machinery, feeding stuffs, fertilisers, value added tax, and rates, respectively.

Information about production costs in terms of expenditure

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what financial assistance, and in what form, is given by his Department to persons intending to qualify, or who are in the process of qualifying, as veterinary surgeons.

In general, no financial assistance is given by my Department to persons intending to qualify, or who are in the process of qualifying, as veterinary surgeons. Such students may, in common with students following other courses, apply to their local authorities for financial assistance. My Department operates a veterinary bursary scheme which enables selected members of its staff who are accepted by one of the veterinary colleges to study for a veterinary degree. These officers receive their normal salary whilst undergoing training, tuition fees, the cost of any necessary equipment and 50 per cent. of the cost of textbooks are borne by the Department. They much undertake to return to the Department for a period of at least five years after qualifying.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many veterinary surgeons are permanently employed' as such, or in other capacities, by his Department.

On 1st February 1978 there were 604 veterinary surgeons permanently employed in my Department. Of these, 599 were employed in the State Veterinary Service, and five were engaged on other duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) on what dates the Arts Council grants in aid were announced in each of the past three years; and when she intends to announce the date for the 1978–79 grants; and if she will seek to give advance notice of the dates in future years;(2) what has been the effect on the many dependent organisations of failure to give adequate advance information of giants in aid to the Arts Council.

In accordance with normal practice, the grants in aid for 1975–76, 1976–77 and 1977–78 were announced when the Supply Estimates were presented to Parliament. It is also normal practice to give the Council some advance indication to enable it to plan the allocation of its resources among its clients, and I am following this practice. I do not deal direct with the Council's clients.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the major contributions to the arts that have been effected by the Minister specially responsible for the arts.